Transforming our view of the cosmos with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

​

I will introduce the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (Rubin) and her Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), and explain their upcoming profound impact on our understanding of the universe and its constituents. LSST is a revolutionary 10-year time-lapse survey of the entire Southern sky observable from Cerro Pachón in Chile, with unprecedented sensitivity, delivered image quality, spectral coverage, and discovery potential. With Rubin construction now complete, and analysis of science verification data underway, preparations are being finalised for the beginning of the 10-year LSST survey in early 2026. I will share some of the early science from commissioning observations, including from the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS and Rubin follow-up observations of recent gravitational wave detections. The UK is one of the largest international partners in the US-led Rubin/LSST endeavour, alongside Chile and France. Our strong position is enabled by UKRI/STFC’s significant investment in LSST:UK, a consortium of all astronomy research groups in the UK, with capacity for every interested member of the UK scientific community to access and use Rubin/LSST data. Birmingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy is home to one of the larger groups within LSST:UK, with a focus on extragalactic and transient astronomy, and including 11 early career researchers. I will describe the scientific breakthroughs that we are ready to make with Rubin/LSST, across cosmology, the physics of explosive transients (supernovae, tidal disruption events, gamma-ray bursts, kilonovae), galaxy evolution, and multi-messenger gravitational lensing.

​

Graham Smith, UoB, UK. (https://grahamsmithastro.com) 

Physics West, W117.

Wednesday 10 Dec 2025, 16:00-17:00

​